London youths stabbed to death, taking total to nine this year

Two youths, one 14 and the other 18, were stabbed to death in London yesterday in separate incidents, bringing to nine the number of young people killed with knives in London this year.

The 14-year-old staggered into a health centre in Queen's Park, north-west London at around 5pm yesterday. Staff tried to save him, but he was pronounced dead after he was taken to St Mary's hospital, Paddington.

A police spokesman said no arrests had yet been made. He added: "This is still the very early stages of our investigation and we would appeal for witnesses."

Earlier an 18-year-old was stabbed several times in the stomach in Stamford Hill, north London, after an argument with another man in a shopping street.

The man staggered a few metres before collapsing on the pavement at around 10am and losing consciousness. His attacker fled north on foot as bystanders tried to save his victim's life. The dead man has not been named by police.

Dinesh Tailor, 49, the owner of a nearby pharmacy, was one of the first to rush to help.

"He was lying on the pavement face down and there was blood pooling from his chest and abdomen area," he said. "He had lost consciousness. He didn't reply when we asked if he could hear us."

The victim received help from paramedics at the scene, but was pronounced dead on arrival at the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel.